Aldershot Town 2, Kettering Town 0

THE scoreline may suggest that Aldershot Town made comfortable passage through to an FA Cup first round meeting with Bradford City, but they were pushed all the way by a classic underdogs performance.

Scott Rendell gave The Shots the perfect start but, until Adam McDonnell sealed victory with a superb 25-yard drive in the final 10 minutes, they had to cling to their lead in the face of a hugely spirited resurgence from the Evo-Stik League South leaders who sit 31 places below Aldershot Town in the non-league pyramid.

Both goalkeepers made a series of impressive saves at crucial moments, but the Poppies were also left to rue referee Savvas Yianni, who they felt deprived them of a penalty with the score still at 1-0.

“Kettering gave a very good account of themselves and the score doesn’t reflect how well they played,” concurred Shots manager Gary Waddock.

“They’re top of their league for a reason and they’ve got some good experience in their squad. I knew it was going to be a difficult game and we were fortunate today. But we’re due some luck, especially in cup competitions. We’re into the draw and that’s the most important thing.”

The visitors had even started the better side, as Lindo Meikle found space on the left and supplied a teasing cross which Rhys Hoenes glanced wide with a close-range header.

Poppies goalkeeper Paul White did well to repel Rendell’s overhead kick from a few yards out but arguably should have done better on 16 minutes, as he could only parry McDonnell’s low shot into the path of Rendell, who was able to tap the ball into the net.

The striker than headed into the side-netting from a couple of yards, and White saved both Fenelon’s angled shot and McDonnell’s effort from distance, but Kettering steadily grew into the game after the break.

Will Mannion – selected ahead of Jake Cole – had to be alert to deny Ben Milnes after he caught George Fowler in possession and found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat.

As Kettering’s self-belief grew – buoyed by the introduction of substitutes Andrea Borg and Aaron O’Connor – The Shots seemingly regressed. Hoenes went down as he tried to skip around the onrushing Mannion on 70 minutes, after Kettering launched a pacy counter-attack which Aldershot Town simply had no answer to. However, vehement penalty appeals were waved away.

Mannion then had to turn O’Connor’s shot around the far-post as the Poppies’ pressure threatened to over-run the hosts, but one moment of brilliance crushed their dreams.

Rendell tapped a pass to McDonnell 25 yards out and before White had a chance to react the swerving drive had flown into the top corner of the net.

The Shots will now host struggling League One side Bradford City at the EBB Stadium in the first round proper – a team which they took to a replay at the same stage of the competition three years ago. A similar outcome this time around would be a major boost to both club finances and Waddock’s steadily-improving squad.

Aldershot Town: Mannion; McCoy, Osho, Fowler, Kinsella; Howell, Booty, McDonnell; Fenelon (Gallagher 59), Rendell, McClure (Wanadio 60). Subs (not used): Cole, Bernard, Lelan, Holman.

Kettering Town: White; Kelly-Evans, Towers, Berry, Rowe-Turner (Toseland 87); Kelly, Solkhon (Borg 56); Milnes (O’Connor 65), Richens, Meikle; Hoenes. Subs (not used): Elsom, Hottor, Graham, Appleton.

Attendance: 1,634.

*Aldershot Town return to Vanarama National League action on Saturday with a long trip to Gateshead (kick-off 3pm) before hosting Boreham Wood at the EBB Stadium next Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm).